Oral Contraceptives Used For Acne Treatment

Birth control pills, as the name suggests are used for contraception but did you know that one of the good side effects of taking birth control pills can treat acne? It is rather interesting that birth control pills have this kind of side effect and many are now taking advantage of it to rid their skin of acne.

According to medical professionals, women who take oral contraception regularly may experience a very positive effect on their skin –making the skin look clearer and feel smoother than before. This is he reason why many women are now using these pills for acne management.

While the connection between oral contraception and the skin is not apparent, dermatologists say ingredients of birth control pills include hormones that slow down the production of excess oil in the body. This means that women who take birth control pills will no longer have to deal with excess oil on their pores which later on translate to less clogging on the pores. Since acne is caused by clogged pores, the problem is lessened when oral contraception is taken regularly which means that breakouts are minimized too.

Can I use oral contraceptives to treat my acne?

Birth control pills may have the side effect of making your skin look clearer but they are not prescribed as a sole treatment for the skin condition. More often than not, dermatologists exhaust all other treatments first i.e. topical treatments containing retinoids or benzoyl peroxide before prescribing birth control pills.

Which oral contraceptives work best to get rid of acne?

If you are planning to use oral contraceptives to prevent pimple breakouts, it is best to contact your dermatologist first. There are a number of birth control pills approved by the Food and Drug Administration for acne treatment but one should make sure that you do not have any health problems or take medications that may interact with the pills. Women who are planning to take birth control pills as a way to get rid of acne must meet the standards of the FDA. This means that you should not be older than 35 years old, have migraine attacks and blood pressure and should not smoke cigarettes.

It is also important to note that oral contraceptives have other side effects aside from lessening the production of sebum. This includes constipation or diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps, soreness of the breasts, and changes in your appetite and menstrual cycle.

Birth control pills to take a look at include Orthro Tri-Cyclen, Estrostep, and YAZ.